“Prime Minister on 31 December unemployment benefits are scheduled to return to $40 a day. For many people this will be a devastating start to the new year, impacting their ability to pay for rent, food and clothing. No wonder they’re sick with worry.
“That $40 a day is unacceptable is not in dispute, for instance the BCA, ACOSS, RBA Governor and even former PM John Howard have all argued against the old Newstart rate.
“So please Prime Minister, will you today commit to the principle of unemployment benefits being above the poverty line, or at the very least no less than the current Jobseeker rate?”